6 Effective Tips on Setting up a Plot Twist

If you are going to write a story or book of your very own, you should know how to utilize plot twists. A plot twist is a literary technique that employs a radical and abrupt change in the plot of any work of fiction. By using plot twists you’ll be able to entice and entertain your audience in the best way possible.

Here are 6 Effective tips on setting up a Plot Twist.

1. Utilize foreshadowing effectively

When it comes to setting up a plot twist, it is important that you use foreshadowing correctly. When we say foreshadowing, it means that you give subtle hints of an event to come. However, you should never be too obvious. When you use foreshadowing, they should be sprinkled throughout the story. That way, once the plot twist has happened, the reader could look back on these foreshadowing events.

2. Make your plot twist believable

If you are going to utilize plot twists in your writing, you should make sure that it is believable. Don’t just use the first plot twist that comes to mind. Take the time to list down potential plot twists. Choose the ones that are the most realistic, and try to write these plot twists into your overall story.

3. Create multiple subplots to support your plot twists

If you want your plot twists to be as believable as possible, it is a good idea to create multiple sub-plots to support it. These subplots must be in coordination with one another, and they should be peppered throughout the story. Each of these subplots must be relevant and have no loose ends.

4. Kill your darlings

When a reader starts on a new book, they usually would not know what the book is about. However, they would already have some preconceived notions about it. One such notion is that the protagonist, or the core characters of your story, won’t get killed off.

This is because most readers believe that without a protagonist, the story would be left without a point of view character. However if legendary writers like G R.R Martin has proved one thing, it is that a story could survive, even without a key character. In the early parts of his beloved book series, A Game of Thrones, he killed off one of his main protagonists. This specific character was a fan favorite and it was a risk to kill the character so early. However, Instead of cutting off the story, he used it as a catalyst for the events to come.

5. Have your plot twists reviewed

Before you finalize on a plot twist, you should really have it checked by fellow writers first. While your plot twist may seem good at first, it may not be well received by your general audience. So it is always a good idea to have another writer look through it first. That way they will be able to point out any inconsistencies in your plot twist that you may have overlooked. Remember that these writers took time off their day to review your work. So if their comments are negative, don’t get offended. Try to learn from their reviews and make the necessary changes to your plot twist.

6. Misdirection is key

When you set up a plot twist, you should use misdirection as much as possible. Remember that plot twists are supposed to shock the reader.

So when you write, you should use the classic misdirect.  Create a significant clue within your story. It should be thinly veiled so that readers won’t know how important it is.  That way, once the twist does occur, your readers will be thoroughly shocked. It is a great literary tool that is certain to make your writing more unpredictable and compelling.

Conclusion

If you want to make your stories as immersive as possible, you should know how to use shock and awe. You should know how to utilize plot twists in the most effective way. With these 6 great plot twist tips, you’ll be able to create a noteworthy story of your very own.